Search a substantial collection of case-specific reasoning, then narrow it by petition, field, legal issue, or date.
This expanded collection favors source-backed access over perfect automated classification. Fields, labels, summaries, and relevance may contain errors; records marked ‘broader context’ need extra care. Review the cited source before relying on any record. These appeals and motions do not show approval odds or denial rates, and are not legal advice or a prediction.
Because the beneficiary's Indian degrees equate to only a U.S. bachelor's degree, and the labor certification requires a master's degree with no alternative combination accepted, the beneficiary does not satisfy the labor certification's minimum qualifications.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
Because the beneficiary's Indian degrees equate to only a U.S. bachelor's degree, and the labor certification requires a master's degree with no alternative combination accepted, the beneficiary does not satisfy the labor certification's minimum qualifications.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-05-17_02_B5203; source_row=16402 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · National importanceNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Mathematics / Statistics
Issue evaluated
NIW · National importance
substantial intrinsic merit
What the decision said
AAO did not separately address the first prong, focusing its analysis primarily on the third prong (national interest substantially greater than a U.S. worker) and rejecting the argument that the NCLBA created a blanket waiver for teachers.
Why this is useful
Compare how the decision separates a broadly important field from the prospective impact of the applicant’s specific work.
View full reasoning +
AAO did not separately address the first prong, focusing its analysis primarily on the third prong (national interest substantially greater than a U.S. worker) and rejecting the argument that the NCLBA created a blanket waiver for teachers.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-05-17_01_B5203; source_row=16398 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Waiver on balanceNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Mathematics / Statistics
Issue evaluated
NIW · Waiver on balance
national interest substantially greater than available U.S. worker
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO found that the petitioner's certificates and witness letters did not establish influence on the field as a whole, that privacy concerns do not excuse the absence of such a record, and that the NYSDOT framework does not require invasive comparison of credentials but rather a record of broader influence.
Why this is useful
See which endeavor-specific facts mattered to the waiver analysis beyond a preference to self-petition.
View full reasoning +
AAO found that the petitioner's certificates and witness letters did not establish influence on the field as a whole, that privacy concerns do not excuse the absence of such a record, and that the NYSDOT framework does not require invasive comparison of credentials but rather a record of broader influence.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-05-17_01_B5203; source_row=16400 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
NIWNIW · Well positionedNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Mathematics / Statistics
Issue evaluated
NIW · Well positioned
national in scope
Why AAO was not persuaded
AAO rejected the argument that the NCLBA designation as a 'highly qualified teacher' confers national scope on the petitioner's individual work, noting that counsel conflated the national importance of education as a concept with the impact of one teacher.
Why this is useful
Identify the progress, resources, outside interest, or record-to-plan connection that AAO expected to see.
View full reasoning +
AAO rejected the argument that the NCLBA designation as a 'highly qualified teacher' confers national scope on the petitioner's individual work, noting that counsel conflated the national importance of education as a concept with the impact of one teacher.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-05-17_01_B5203; source_row=16399 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Based on letters from three prior employers, the AAO found that the beneficiary has more than five years of post-baccalaureate accounting experience, satisfying the box 6 experience requirement.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
Based on letters from three prior employers, the AAO found that the beneficiary has more than five years of post-baccalaureate accounting experience, satisfying the box 6 experience requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-05-17_03_B5203; source_row=16413 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Educational requirement (bachelor's degree in accounting or foreign equivalent)
Why the evidence was persuasive
The AAO found that the beneficiary's Licenciado en Contaduria Publica, a four- to five-year Venezuelan degree, is more likely than not the foreign educational equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree in accounting, satisfying the educational requirement.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The AAO found that the beneficiary's Licenciado en Contaduria Publica, a four- to five-year Venezuelan degree, is more likely than not the foreign educational equivalent of a U.S. bachelor's degree in accounting, satisfying the educational requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-05-17_03_B5203; source_row=16412 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Certification as CPA, CIA, or CISA (box 14 other requirements)
Why AAO was not persuaded
The AAO rejected counsel's argument, finding that the plain language of the labor certification and the job advertisements require a CPA, CIA, or CISA — all U.S. certifications — with no foreign equivalent alternative offered. Because the beneficiary holds none of these certifications, he does not satisfy this requirement.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The AAO rejected counsel's argument, finding that the plain language of the labor certification and the job advertisements require a CPA, CIA, or CISA — all U.S. certifications — with no foreign equivalent alternative offered. Because the beneficiary holds none of these certifications, he does not satisfy this requirement.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-05-17_03_B5203; source_row=16414 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
Degree in required field (business administration) per labor certification
Why AAO was not persuaded
The labor certification required a degree in business administration. The beneficiary's degree is in Portuguese language and literature, and the evaluations failed to establish equivalency to a U.S. business degree because they did not compare the beneficiary's coursework to a U.S. business program and were unsubstantiated.…
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The labor certification required a degree in business administration. The beneficiary's degree is in Portuguese language and literature, and the evaluations failed to establish equivalency to a U.S. business degree because they did not compare the beneficiary's coursework to a U.S. business program and were unsubstantiated. The AAO also rejected the argument that item 7's field-of-study restriction applied only to the primary requirement, as general items on the form apply to the job overall.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-05-17_04_B5203; source_row=16415 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · High remunerationNot addressedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · High remuneration
high salary or significantly high remuneration
What the decision said
The decision text is cut off before AAO's analysis of this criterion is complete. Petitioner submitted Russian tax returns and salary survey comparisons, but AAO's conclusion on this criterion is not available in the provided text.
Why this is useful
Use the reasoning to identify the specific factual or documentary gap AAO considered material.
View full reasoning +
The decision text is cut off before AAO's analysis of this criterion is complete. Petitioner submitted Russian tax returns and salary survey comparisons, but AAO's conclusion on this criterion is not available in the provided text.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-05-17_03_B2203; source_row=16410 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c
EB-1AEB-1A · Original contributionsNot establishedAutomated extraction · broader context
Case facts
Other
Issue evaluated
EB-1A · Original contributions
original contributions of major significance
Why AAO was not persuaded
Although counsel argued the petitioner was a pioneer in importing various wines to Russia and introduced biodynamic wines, the evidence showed only that the petitioner runs a successful import business. The letters from references did not provide specific examples of how his work significantly impacted the field beyond his own company and its suppliers.
Why this is useful
Distinguish original work from evidence that the contribution had major significance across the field.
View full reasoning +
Although counsel argued the petitioner was a pioneer in importing various wines to Russia and introduced biodynamic wines, the evidence showed only that the petitioner runs a successful import business. The letters from references did not provide specific examples of how his work significantly impacted the field beyond his own company and its suppliers.
Exact record locator: findings_long.parquet filename_stem=2013-05-17_03_B2203; source_row=16407 Revision: 081d2cac29dcadfec88fdd675d7a0c4294d72b3c